Rotary type end feed and sterilizer



Oct. 14, 1958 E. LAXO ETAL I ROTARY TYPE END FEED AND STERILIZER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 20. 1954 nil IN V EN TOR5 [0 (X0 &

THO/V45 C, [0596! "W5 7 Irma/WY Oct. 14, 1958 E. LAXO ETAL 2,855,738

ROTARY TYPE END FEED AND STERILIZER Filed April 20, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS :0 ZIXO TWO/745 C, (/5955 Oct. 14, 1958 E. LAxo ETAL v 2,855,733-

' ROTARY TYPE END FEED AND STERILIZER Filed April 20. 1954 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR5 I0 mxa ThOMIS c. wiper BY fla -M A lrrai/vir Oct. 14, 1958 -E. LAXO ET AL 2,855,738

I ROTARY TYPE END FEED AND STERILIZER Filed April 20. 1954 v e Sheets-Sheet 5 w JNVENTOR! m u THO/1 6. 44 596! way irram/iri Oct. 14, 1958 E. LAXO ET AL 2,355,733

ROTARY TYPE END FEED AND STERILIZER Filed April 20. 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN VEN TORS [0 (X0 THU/W45 6. WIPG! BY fl w/ 4 irram ly United States Patent ROTARY TYPE END FEED AND STERILIZER Ed Laxo, Oakland, and Thomas C. Werge, San Leandro, Calif., assignors to W. F. and John Barnes Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application April 20, 1954, Serial No. 424,328

6 Claims. (Cl. 53-68) This invention relates to a can end feed and sterilizer. More particularly it relates to an apparatus which is adapted to strip can ends successively and rapidly from a stack thereof in a magazine, then feed the can ends through a sterilizing chamber and then feed the sterilized can ends in sequence to a closing machine in timed relation to the feed of can bodies to such closing machine.

In aseptic canning processes, such as that described in Martin U. S. Patent No. 2,549,216, the various operations involved in canning must be carried out under sterile, aseptic conditions. Thus the containers, such as tin cans, must be sterilized, and likewise the can ends or closures. The containers must be filled under sterile, aseptic conditions and the sterilized can ends or can lids must be applied to the containers under sterile conditions.

One of the problems encountered in the operation of an aseptic canning process, is the sterilization of can ends at high speed and in a dependable manner, and in synchronism with the feed of can bodies to a closing machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of can end feed and sterilizer for the purpose described.

It is another object of the invention to provide an end feed and sterilizer which is capable of stripping can ends successively and at a high speed from a stack thereof, passing the same through a sterilizing chamber, sterilizing the same effectively in such chamber and then transferring the sterilized can ends, under aseptic, sterile conditions, to a can end transfer mechanism for supply to a closing machine, all in timed relation to the supply of can bodies to the closing machine.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and the appended claims.

I One form of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of the can end feed and sterilizer of the present invention, which is shown in conjunction with a can end transfer mechanism and a closing machine.

Figure 2 is a staggered, vertical section taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing the ejector means for ejecting sterilized can ends from the sterilizing chamber.

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing the crank means for rotating the feed screws of the sterilizer and also showing the cam means for operating the ejector means.

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing another portion of the ejector operating mechanism.

Figure 6 is a view in vertical section taken through the transmission means for operating and timing the various elements of the sterilizer.

I Figure 7 is a section taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6, showing in detail the overload clutch which drives the transmission shown in Figure 6.

Patented Oct. 14, 1958 Figure 8 is a view, partly in horizontal section and partly in top plan, of the transmission means, such view being along the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9- is a section taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 2, showing the drive for the auxiliary magazine.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the end feed and sterilizer of the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. Such end feed and sterilizer will be referred to hereinafter as the sterilizer. It is shown in Figure 1 in conjunction with an end transfer mechanism 11 and a closing machine 12. The can end transfer mechanism 11 may be of conventional construction and may comprise, for example, a rotary turret 13 fixed to and rotated by a shaft 114 and having pockets 15 for reception of can ends. A cover 16 is provided to enclose the path of travel of the can ends from the sterilizer 10 to the closing machine 12 so as to maintain aseptic conditions. Can ends are shown at 17 supported in a main magazine 18 for supply to the sterilizer 10, and they are also shown in an auxiliary magazine 19 which receives and holds can ends which are rejected by the sterilizer 10 in the manner and for the purpose explained hereinafter. The main magazine 18 comprises posts 28 which are fixed to and extend upwardly from the cover 25 of the sterilizer 10, such cover being fixed to the sterilizer by means of wing bolts 26.

As is best shown in Figure 2 the cover 25 is formed with an opening 27 for passage of the can ends into the interior of the sterilizer, such opening having lateral extensions 27:: (see Figure l) for a purpose described hereinafter. The extensions 27a are covered by caps 28 each of which is pivoted at 29 and is equipped with suitable means such as a torsion spring (not shown) to maintain the cap 28 in normally closed position. Each cap 28 is also provided with a handle or finger hold 30 for manipulation, and a stop member 31 is provided to engage the cap 28 and hold it in the position illustrated in Figure l.

Referringnow more particularly to Figure 2, the end feed and sterilizer 10 is provided with a cylindrical wall 35 which is of double Wall construction for insulating purposes and which is carried by a base 36. The cover member 25 above-mentioned is fixed to the top of the wall 35. As is best shown in Figure 3, the wall 35 is also provided with doors 37, each of which is hinged at 38 and is provided with a handle 39 rotatable on a shaft 40 and having a tip or cam member 41 engageable with an annular groove 42 formed in a latch member 43. By this means each of the doors 37 may be opened and closed and, when closed, it may be locked tightly. Access is thus provided to the interior of the sterilizing chamber which is indicated by the reference numeral 44 and which is best shown in Figure 2.

Within the sterilizing chamber 44, there are provided helical feed members or feed screws 45. There are four pairs of such feed screws so as to feed can ends 17 downwardly simultaneously along four vertical, parallel paths. Each of the feed screws 45 is formed at its lower end with a trunnion journaled in a sleeve 51 which is integral with a bottom plate 52. .At its upper end each of the feed screws 45 is journaled on a pin 53 which is fixed to a top plate 54. Posts 55 are provided, one for each pair of feed screws (see Figure 3), each such post extending between the bottom plate 52 and the top plate 54. The bottom and top plates 52 and 54, respectively, are formed with centrally located sleeves 56 which project into the sterilizer chamber 44 and to which is keyed a sleeve 57. The sleeve 57 is journaled in the frame of the machine at 58 and the bottom plate 52 rests upon a thrust bearing 59. Fixed to the sleeve 57 are four bars 60 (see Figures 2 and 3) which constitute extensions of the sleeves 56 and which bear against the four columns of can ends.

At the upper end of the sterilizing chamber 44, above the top plate 54, there is provided a rotary feed member 65 having a knife edge 66 and formed with a helical groove 6'7. The feed blade 65 is fixed to a central, vertical shaft 68 which is journaled within the sleeve 57, and at its extreme upper end the shaft is journaled in a roller bearing 69. Each of the feed screws 45 is formed at its upper end with a thread 70 of relatively large pitch and at its lower end with a similar thread 71. Between the coarsely threaded portions 70 and 71, and throughout most of its length, each of the feed screws is formed with a thread 64 of relatively small pitch.

The feed screws 45 and the shaft 63 and its rotary feed member 65 are rotated simultaneously in the manner ascribed hereinafter. The shaft 68 and feed member 65 are, however, rotated at four times the angular velocity of the feed screws and in timed relation thereto. It will, there ore, be apparent that can ends 17 will be stripped. from the main magazine 18 one-by-one, by means of the knife edge 66 of the feed member 65, and will be screwed downwardly by means of the helical thread 67 and fed to the feed screws 45. By reason of the four-to-one speed ratio of the feed member 65 to the feed screws 45, it will also be apparent that, as each pair of feed screws 45 comes into registry with the main magazine 18, the feed member 65 will strip the lowermost can end from the magazine and will feed it to the particular pair of feed screws 45 which are in registry with the magazine 18.

As mentioned above the sterilizing chamber 44 together with the feed screws 45, etc., are rotated about the axis of shaft 68, and at the same time each of the feed screws 45 is rotated about its own longitudinal axis. These simultaneous movements are accomplished by the means which will now be described.

Referring more particularly to Figure 2, a shaft 8ft is driven by the means described hereinafter, in synchronism with the can end transfer mechanism 11 and the closing machine 12. To the upper end of the shaft 80 is fixed a pinion 81 which meshes with and rotates a ring gear 82 which is fixed to the undersurface of the bottom plate 52 of sterilizing chamber 44. Clamped to the lower end of the trunnion 50 of each of the feed screws 45, is one end of a crank 83, the other end of which is clamped to a pivot pin 84 which is rotatable in an annular disc 85 which is free to rotate on an eccentric member 86. The eccentric member 86 has a cylindrical periphery but it is eccentric with respect to the shaft as. it will, therefore, be apparent that, as the shaft 80 rotates, it will rotate the bottom plate 52 through the medium of the pinion 81 and ring gear 82, and will cause the feed screws 45, etc, to rotate collectively or as a unit about the longitudinal axis of shaft 63. It will also be apparent that, by reason of the cranks 83 and the eccentric mounting of the annular disc 35, each of the feed screws 45 will also be rotated about its own individual axis.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 6, 7 and 8, the transmission or driving means for operating the sterilizer originates with a gear 9& (see Figure 8) keyed to the shaft 14 of the can end transfer means 11. The shaft 14- is rotated by any suitable means (not shown) in timed relation to the closing machine 12 and to a can body feed (not shown). The gear 90 meshes with and drives a gear 91 which is shown in Figure 8 and also in Figure 6. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the gear 91 is keyed to the hub 92 of the driving element 93 of an overload clutch 94, such hub being suitably journaled in the frame of the machine, as illustrated. The driving element 93 is connected to the driven element 95 by means of a dog 96 pivotally mounted at 97 on the driving element 93. The driven element 95 is formed with two, diametrically opposite notches 98 which are curved and concave. As shown in Figure 7, the dog 96 has a roller 96a which is engageable with the notches 98 and which is urged into engagement with one or the other of these notches by an expansion spring 99 and a plunger 99a.

The purpose of the overload clutch 94 i to break the driving connection between the main driving gear 91 and the various elements of the sterilizer in the event of a jam within the sterilizer. In such event the roller 96a pops out of the notches 98 and causes the driving element 93 to overrun the driven element 95. This interrupts the sterilizer drive for the purpose just explained and avoids or minimizes damage which would otherwise be caused if the drive continued. When the jam has been eliminated, the roller 96:: will re-engage and remain in one of the notches 98, and will restore the driving connection between the driving and driven elements of the clutch, in proper time with the other elements of the assembly.

The driven element 95 of clutch 94 is keyed to a shaft 100. The upper end of the shaft 1% is fixed to a gear 110 which meshes with and drives a gear 111 journaled on a stub shaft 112 which is fixed to the frame of the machine. The gear 111 drives a gear 113 for a purpose described hereinafter, and it also meshes with and drives a gear 114 which is journaled on a pin 115 fixed to the frame of the machine. The gear 114, in turn, meshes I with and drives a gear 116 which is keyed to the shaft 80. It is the shaft which, as described above with reference to Figure 2, is keyed to gear 81 which serves to drive the ring gear 32 and to rotate the feed screws 45 about the central axis of shaft 68 and about their own axes.

As mentioned above, the gear 111 meshes with and drives a gear 113. The gear 113 has a hub 11''] which is journaled in the frame of the machine and is keyed to the shaft 68. As described above, with reference to Figure 2, it is the shaft 68 which rotates the feed member 65, which serves to strip can ends 17 from the main magazine 18 and to feed them consecutively to the feed screws 45. The gearing illustrated in Figures 6 and S is such as to provide a four-to-one speed ratio in favor of the feed blade 65, for the purpose explained hereinabove; i. e., to feed one can end to each pair of feed screws 45, each time such pair of feed screws is rotated into registry with the magazine 18.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 3, 4- and 5, a means is provided for automatically ejecting each can end as it reaches the lower end of a pair of feed screws 45, and for depositing the ejected can end in a pocket 15 of the can end transfer turret 13. As is best shown in Figure 3, this ejection and this transfer are accomplished by means of an ejector member or kicker 120 which is pivoted at 121 .and which is rotated by the means hereinafter described to kick each can end 17 in the direction of the radial arrow shown in Figure 3, into one of the pockets 15 of the turret 13. There is one such kicker for each pair of feed screws 45, i. e., one for each stack of can ends 17.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 4 and 5, it will be seen that each of the kicker members 12 is fixed to a pivot pin 121 journaled in the bottom plate 52 of the sterilizer. To the lower end of each pivot pin 121 is fixed one end of a crank 122, and a spring 123 is provided which is pinned at one end to the underside of the plate 52 and at its other end to the crank 122. It will be apparent that each of the springs 123 will urge its kicker member 120 inwardly toward the central axis of the machine. To the other end of each of the cranks 122 is fixed a cam follower roller 124 which rolls on a cam 125 and is maintained in contact therewith by the corresponding spring 123. The cam 125, as is best shown in Figure 4, has a high point 126 which rocks each crank 122 in opposition to the spring 123, as the roller 124 rides up the high point, and which moves the corresponding kicker member120 outwardly. In view of the timing of the various elements of the assembly shown in Figure 1, this kicking or ejecting action occurs when a can is resting on the bottom plate 52 and is in registry with a pocket 15 of the end transfer turret 13. It will, therefore, be apparent that each of the can ends 17, after traversing the height of the sterilizing chamber 44, is delivered to a pocket 15 of the turret 13.

Provision is also made for rejecting those can ends for which no corresponding can body is delivered to the closing machine 12. In this connection, any suitable type of no-can-no end device may be used for sensing the absence of a can body in the can body feed line which supplies can bodies to the closing machine. Such devices are well known and require no detailed description herein. One such device comprises a feeler member so located as to lie adjacent the path of travel of can bodies. The feelermember may be spring biased so as normally to contact can bodies .as they are fed to the closing machine, and to span the normal distance between two successive can bodies, with the result that, if there is a can body lacking in the delivery line, the resilient force acting on the feeler member will cause it to move, thereby closing an electric switch and energizing an electric circuit.

Having reference now more particularly to Figures 4 and 5, the ejector cam 125 is recessed at 127 and a movable lobe or high point 128 is provided which, when brought into registry with the recessed area 127, constitutes a lobe or high point of the cam 125. The movable lobe 128 is fixed to a shaft 129 which is slidable in the frame of the machine and which has an .annular groove 130 formed at itslower end to receive one end of a lever 135 which is pivoted on the frame of the machine at 136. The other end of the lever 135 is pivotally connected to the plunger or armature 137 of a solenoid 138. The latter forms a part of a circuit which may be energized in the manner described hereinabove; i. e., when a can body is missing in the can body feed line of the closing ma- .chine 12, the solenoid 138, which is normally de-energized, is energized and retracts the plunger 137. This movement rocks the lever 135 in clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5, and lifts the shaft 129. The movable cam lobe 128 is, therefore, brought into registry with the recessed portion 127 of the ejector cam 125.

Having reference to Figures 1 and 3, the movable cam lobe 128 is in registry with the auxiliary magazine 19, and it functions in the same manner as the main or fixed cam lobe or high point 126, to operate a kicker 120. As a consequence, any can end for which there is no corresponding cam body is rejected and is delivered to the auxiliary magazine 19. The latter comprises feed screws 140 which are journaled in the frame of the machine and guide rods 145 which are fixed to the frame of the machine and which extend above the tops of the feed screws 140.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 9, the feed screws 140 of the auxiliary magazine 19 are driven by a transmission which will now be described.

The ring gear 82 fixed to the bottom plate 52 of the sterilizer (and which serves the purpose of rotating the feed screws 45), meshes with a gear 146 journaled on a shaft 147 fixed to the frame-of the machine. The gear 146, in turn meshes with and drives a gear 148 which is fixed to a trunnion 149 formed at the lower end of one of the feed screws 140. The gear 148 also meshes with and drives an idler gear 150 journaled on a pin 151 which is fixed to the frame of the machine, and the gear 150 in turn meshes with and drives a gear 153 which is fixed to the trunnion 149 of the other feed screw 140.

The sterilizer rotates in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3, and the movable cam lobe 128 (see Figure 4) is located in advance of the fixed cam lobe 126. Hence, it will be apparent that a can end corresponding to a missing can body will be rejected and deposited in the auxiliary magazine 19. The timing of the sterilizer and that of the can body feed are such that the rejected can end corresponds to a missing can body.

As rejected can ends accumulate in the auxiliary magazine 19, they are screwed upwardly. From time to time an operator may lift accumulated, rejected ends from the magazine 19 and restore them to the main magazine 18.

Sterilization may be accomplished in the sterilizing chamber 44 by any suitable means. For example, superheated steam at 400 F. may be introduced to penetrate between the can ends as they are moved downwardly through the sterilizing chamber by the feed screws 45. A residence time of about one minute at this temperature is usually ample for sterilization without causing deterioration of the can ends by exposure to heat.

Any suitable, known type of can body feed may be used such as a feed screw or worm, or an endless chain provided with dogs, the pitch of the screw or worm, or the spacing of the dogs on the chain, being such as to space the can bodies at predetermined intervals. Such can body feed will, of course, be driven in timed relation to the sterilizer 10, the can end transfer mechanism 11 and the closing machine 12.

Referring to Figure 6, two clamping collars and 161 are shown which are clamped to the shafts 68 and 80, respectively. The collar 160 is integral with the hub 117 of gear 113 and the collar 161 is integral with the hub 162 of gear 81 (see Figure 2). By means of these collars the height of the sterilizing chamber 44 can be adjusted by loosening the collars 160 and 161, making the desired adjustment and then tightening the collars to clamp the sterilizing chamber in adjusted position.

It will, therefore, be apparent that a can end feed and sterilizer has been provided which satisfies the objects stated above. It is operable under aseptic conditions to feed can ends to a closing machine or the like. Can ends are stripped at a very rapid rate from a magazine thereof and are. fed downwardly in four parallel columns (more or less depending upon requirements and personal preferences), through a sterilizing chamber, wherein they are separated by the thickness of the thread of the screws 45 so that steam or other sterilizing gas can penetrate between the can ends. This achieves an intimate contact between the sterilizing gas and the can ends and conducts the sterilizing operation rapidly and thoroughly. The sterile can ends are then fed in sequence and at a rapid rate to a can end transfer turret for transfer to a closing machine, all such operations being accomplished in timed relation to the feed of can bodies to the closing machine. The no can-no end mechanism described above and illustrated in the drawings is effective to reject each can end for which there is no corresponding can body, and the rejected can ends are deposited in an auxiliary magazine where they can be conveniently removed and replaced in the main magazine. The extensions 27a: of inlet opening 27 in the cover 25 serve a useful purpose when it is desired to shut down the sterilizer, or to empty it of can ends. Thus, the caps 28 are pivoted to open position and an operator may reach in with his fingers to lift the stack of can ends in the magazine 18.

We claim:

1. In combination with a closing machine, a can body feed therefor and a can end transfer mechanism for supplying can ends to the closing machine in timed relation to the supply of can bodies thereto, the improvement which comprises a can end sterilizer for sterilizing can ends and supplying sterilized ends to the can and transfer mechanism, such improvement comprising a sterilizing chamber, a plurality of pairs of rotary helical feed members within said chamber capable, upon rotation, of moving can ends through the chamber from one end thereof to the other simultaneously along a plurality of parallel paths and with the can ends spaced apart to facilitate contact with a sterilizing medium, means for sup- 7 plying can ends to each pair of helical feed members at one end of the chamber, means for transferring each sterilized can end at the other end of the chamber to said transfer mechanism, and means for rotating the helical feed members individually about their longitudinal axes and collectively about a central axis.

2. In combination with a closing machine, a can body feed therefor and a can end transfer mechanism for supplying can ends to the closing machine in timed relation to the supply of can bodies thereto, the improvement which comprises a can end sterilizer for sterilizing can ends and supplying sterilized ends to the can end transfer mechanism, such improvement comprising a sterilizing chamber, a plurality of pairs of rotary helical feed members Within said chamber capable, upon rotation, of movingcan ends through the chamber from one end thereof to the other simultaneously along a plurality of parallel paths and with the can ends spaced apart to facilitate contact with a sterilizing medium, means for supplying can ends to each pair of helical feed members at one end of the chamber, means for transferring each sterilized can end at the other end of the chamber to ber having a central axis, a main magazine for holding a stack of can ends, a plurality of rotary feed mechanisms within said chamber and mounted for rotation about said central axis, each such feed mechanism comprising a pair of threaded shafts arranged in parallelism,

spaced apart and mounted for rotation about their in- 2) dividual longitudinal axes and for movement of can ends from the top to the bottom of said chamber, means for simultaneously rotating said shafts collectively about said central axis and individually about their longitudinal axes, a rotary stripper operable, upon rotation, to strip can ends from said stack and to supply the same to each feed mechanism whenever it is rotated to a position of registry with the stack, a first can end ejector means operable to eject each sterilized end from the bottom of said chamber and to deliver the same to a can end transfer mechanism, an auxiliary can end magazine, and a second ejector means operable, whenever a can body is missing in the supply of can bodies to a closing machine, to eject the corresponding can end and to deliver the same to said auxiliary magazine.

4. A can end sterilizer comprising a sterilizing chamber, having a central vertical axis, a main magazine for holding a stack of can ends on top of such chamber, a plurality of rotary feed mechanisms within said chamher and mounted for rotation about said central axis,

each such feed mechanism comprising a pair of threaded shafts arranged in parallelism, spaced apart and mounted for rotation about their individual longitudinal axes and for movement of can ends from the top to the bottom of said chamber, means for simultaneously rotating said shafts collectively about said central axis and individually about their individual axes, a rotary stripper operable,

upon rotation, to strip can ends from said stack and to supply the same to each feed mechanism whenever it is rotated to a position of registry with the stack, a first, cam operated can end ejector means operable to eject each sterilized end from the bottom of said chamber and to deliver the same to a can end transfer mechanism, an auxiliary can end magazine, and a second ejector means operable, whenever a can body is missing in the supply of can bodies to a closing machine to eject the corresponding can end and to deliver the same to said auxiliary magazine.

5. A machine of the character described comprising a plurality of rotatable helical feed means arranged in pairs and mounted for rotation about their individual axes, each pair being capable, upon rotation about their individual axes, of moving can ends along their length, said pairs being arranged in parallelism for reception of can ends at an inlet end and for movement of the can ends along a plurality of parallel paths to an exit end, said pairs of helical feed means being also mounted for rotation as a unit about a central axis, means for simultaneously rotating said helical feed means as a unit about said central axis and individually about their individual axes and ejector means in the form of a kicker member for each pair of helical feed means, a cam and means operatively connecting the cam and each kicker means whereby the latter is operated to eject a can end whenever its associated helical feed means is rotated to a predetermined position.

6. In combination with a closing machine and a can body feed therefor, a main can end magazine for holding a supply of can ends, a rotary type can end feed comprising a plurality of rotatable helical feed means arranged in pairs, each helical feed means being rotatable about its individual axis and each pair being capable upon rotation of moving can ends along their lengths, said pairs being arranged in parallelism for reception of can ends from said magazine and for movement of the can ends along a plurality of parallel paths to a predetermined plane, said pairs of parallel helical feed means being also mounted for rotation as a unit about a central axis, means simultaneously rotating the said helical feed means as a unit about said central axis and individually about their longitudinal axes of rotation, a first, cam operated can end ejector operable, whenever a can end is rotated to a predetermined point in said plane to eject the same from the end feed, an auxiliary magazine, a no can-no end device activated by the absence of a can body in said can body feed, and movable cam means operated by the activated no can-no end device to eject the can end corresponding to the missing can body.

References Cited in the file of this patent at, u a 

